Current Research Activities

My current research interests are in the areas of synthesis, assembly, and characterization of 2D and 3D nano-hybrid structures, with emphasis on exploring new materials and architectures for fabricating future micro- and nano-devices. Through this we aim to understand the relationships between atomic-level structure and chemistry, and properties.
Creating and characterising nano-hybrid structures
Creating nano-hybrid structures involves functionalising carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles and nanowires, through self-assembly, deposition, impregnation and surface/interface chemical/physical modification. These nanostructured materials afford novel properties for applications in technologies such as biosensors, magnetic storage, polymer composites and catalysis.
Microfluidics
Research in this area focuses on polymer based microfluidic devices for the analysis of individual components in complex systems using capillary electrophoresis. Such devices reduce analysis times, allow for high through-put screening, increase selectivity, lower cost, and decrease reagent consumption. A fundamental component of work in this area is developing a tunable surface for controlling the electro-osmotic flow within these device to further improved device performance.
Some of the techniques used in these areas include, chemical vapour deposition, UV and thermal polymerisation, wet-chemical self-assembly, soft lithography, X-ray diffraction, capillary electrophoresis, various spectroscopies (e.g., NMR, XPS, UV-Vis, Fluorescence, IR, Raman), and various microscopies AFM, MFM, STM and electron microscopy (conventional and high resolution TEM). As well as, current monitoring, thermal analysis, in situ electrical measurements and mass-spectrometry.